December 22, 2008

A while ago I promised that I would post some progress shots (not very good ones) of the paintings I'm working on for my show in March at Hillyer Art Space. These are some shots I took over a month ago and while I realize they don't reveal much I think they are interesting glimpses into the work I'm doing. Don't worry though, I'll post more in the next couple of weeks! Enjoy!

December 4, 2008

I don't normally do commissions; it's never as pleasurable as doing my own work, but recently I made an exception due to the open collaborative process the commissioner agreed to. They came to me with an idea for a painting based on the Greek myth of Persephone and then let me go to town.

Here is the rough sketch we agreed on.

While thinking about how to portray the myth I knew that I didn't want to paint to a Greek woman in robes being kidnapped by Hades, I wanted an image that was a bit more contemporary. (read about the myth here)

November 20, 2008

Last Saturday night I went to Transformer Gallery's 5th Annual Silent Auction and had a good time catching up with friends, checking out art and meeting collectors. The night went well for me (there was a little bidding war for my pieces from the Making Face series I did a few years ago - here and here) but it felt different from past years: there seemed to be less people (though it was still crowded), less artwork on the walls and more restrained bidding. From what I heard, Transformer had a good night in the end (though I'll be interested to hear what the final earnings were for the night), but it definitely felt like the down turn in the economy might have been having an effect on the night...But who knows, I'm definitely not an economist!

November 17, 2008

If you haven’t heard already, my wife and I are expecting our first baby early next year! I’m not sure how the birth of our baby will influence the content of my paintings, but I do know that it will influence where I work. There’s not much room at home, so the baby gets what is now the studio and I get to look for a new one!

In the meantime I need to start making space and need to get rid of things!

For the first time I've created a section on my website that has all of the work that is available for sale in one place. And there are some new things I'm offering, including affordable and framed one-of-a-kind drawing studies that I make as I work out the composition of each new painting. To check out what I have hanging around the studio, please go here.

This very special, one-night only event features an exciting array of over 125 artworks in a variety of mediums, dimensions and prices by more than 100 of DC's leading emerging and established artists.

ExpandingTransformer'smission of artist-centered programming, we are thrilled to have this year's Auction at Halcyon House in the gorgeous studio of Washington's leading sculptor, John Dreyfuss. In addition to viewing and bidding on an eclectically curated mix of salon-style hung artworks, patrons are encouraged to groove to the beats of Djs Yellow Fever and enjoy delicious complimentary hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer throughout the evening provided by some of DC's finest restaurants, including: Bar Pilar, Bistrot Lepic & Wine Bar, Bombay Club, Buck’s Fishing & Camping, Café Saint-Ex, Comet Ping Pong, Jaleo, Leopold’s Kafe + Konditorei, Local 16, Mandu, Marvin, Melt Catering, Old Ebbitt Grill, On the Fly, Oyamel, Paisley Fig, Posto, Sea Catch, sweetgreen, and Whole Foods.

With a growing reputation as an awesome party and fantastic opportunity for both beginning and seasoned collectors to purchase some of the best visual art DC has to offer, attendance to the auction is sure to sell out, so buy your tickets early! Attendance is $150 if received by 10.27.08; $175 after this date. Attendance is on a first paid, first secured basis.

-Providing essential support for this dynamic organization's year-round programming, exhibitions, and services, The 5th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party is an ideal place to experience and purchase an informed sampling of work by Washington's top contemporary artists while connecting with a fun, sophisticated and smart audience. The Annual Auction & Benefit Party celebrates and supports Transformer's programming and raises the visibility of a diverse range of contemporary art and artists in the Washington, DC area.

-Proceeds from The 5th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party will match recent grant awards, directly supporting artists through artist honoraria, exhibition material coasts, and related programming support. In addition to supporting exhibitions, proceeds will support artists through the funding of Transformer programs such as

November 5, 2008

Here's a brief recap of my election day experience:Yesterday morning my wife and I headed out early to our voting site and we were stopped in our tracks when we saw this:

We got in line and began our two hour wait to place our vote. While in line we chatted with neighbors and marveled at the huge turn out. After about an hour, my wife gave in to the cold and her tired feet and was allowed inside to find a seat to rest (one of the perks of being pregnant!!) while I kept our place in line. Another hour later we were reunited inside and participated in the historic day!

Still excited, she headed off to work and I headed back to the studio to paint.

A couple of hours later, I got a call from my sister (who I had loaned our car to so she could be a legal observer at polling stations in Virginia). Bad news.... An ambulance had hit her. She wasn't hurt and the car wasn't badly damaged, but it definitely put a damper on both of our days as she spent two hours waiting for and then dealing with the police investigator, and I dealt with the insurance side of things.

At about 5pm I ran over to the gym for a quick work out and was surprised to find so many people there all tuned in to CNN.

By 7pm friends started coming over to watch the results. We even made our own electoral map that we colored in as the result for each state was declared.

When Pennsylvania was declared blue and then Ohio, we began celebrating. But for me, the biggest win of the night was Virginia.... Growing up and going to school in the diverse city of Alexandria, Virginia and then going to college in Richmond, VA, I have known for a long time that the state was split, but I have only dared to dream that it could go blue.... The state that is home to the capitol of the Confederacy going blue? A blue Virginia says it all!

And then the 44th President was declared!

As I listened to Obama speak, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were finally stepping out of an 8 year episode of the Twilight Zone... The contrast between then and what will be was and is almost unbelievable!

Immediately after the speech, we jumped in the car thinking that we would go to U Street to join the celebrations there. As soon as we started driving, we were honking the horn and blowing the whistle my wife had brought along and within minutes we were driving alongside others doing the same... The honking in the city and the amount of people on the streets cheering and chanting "Obama" and "Yes we did!" was incredibly moving... The city was alive! It was overwhelming....

When we got to 16th and U we saw that the police had blocked the street so we looked at each other and yelled "The White House!"

We spent roughly 4 hours down there singing, chanting, yelling, celebrating, jumping, giving hi fives, and embracing complete strangers..... The joy was palpable... It was an absolutely amazing and emotional night.

My lovely (and pregnant wife) Exhausted but jubliant after a long day. As a new US citizen, this was her first opportunity to vote in a Presidential Election

"I've never seen anything like this!" someone exclaimed.

"I have!" my wife yelled back, "When Argentina won the World Cup!"

Video of the celebrations in Washington DC at the corner of 16th and K st one block from the White House (the whistler is me!)

Me, the artist, with a whistle and making noise on top of a electrical box at the corner of 16th and K st one block from the White House

October 29, 2008

The past couple of months have found me working hard on getting new paintings together for my upcoming show at Hillyer Art Space in March. And I have been working hard: sketching, planing, prepping canvases and have a bunch of paintings underway. On Sunday I decided that I needed a break from my intense routine and started working on some new rough sketches for the next batch of paintings I want to finish for the show. I've been drawing and drawing and drawing (or trying to draw) for the past couple of days, but things aren't coming out the way I would like. So last night I decided I needed to clear my head and go back to the basics and draw from life.

I did a quick self portrait and started to feel good, like I was relearning how to see. It isn't perfect (the eyes are a bit off due to slight shifts in the pose and I didn't pay that much attention to my hair and beard), but I feel like its a good start. I'm hoping to do a few more of these before I dive back into the routine!

October 27, 2008

Recently I finished an illustration that will accompany an editorial about changes that could be made to the Spanish alphabet and why the Real Academia Española hasn't made any changes since the 1700's. The illustration will appear in the Dec/Jan issue ofAmerican Airlines' magazineNexos. If you're flyingAmerican Airlinesthis winter look in the back of the seat in front of you and check it out!

rough sketch ---------------------- final drawing

final illustration ( acrylic on illustration board, touched up in Photoshop)

October 3, 2008

Do you know what a pangolin is? Niether did I, but after being asked to do a coloring book page of one for SavePangolins.org I got a quick introduction. They look like a cross between an armadillo and anteater but is niether and is endangered. Find out more about these critters and how you can help to save them here. And to download the coloring book page I created go here.

September 15, 2008

Over the weekend I participated in the DC art festival Arts on Foot and had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people including talented photograher and fellow OCCOA artist Tara Kocourek and journalist/blogger Christine Cordner.

Arts on Foot... it was two days of heat, humidity and scattered rain, but I survived and had a good time in the end.

Friday started with me and my wife trying to figure out how to put together my new display walls and then was slow and hot for the rest of the day. I met a few people and was able to catch up with artist Todd Gardner (i'll be posing for one of the last 6 paintings he's doing for his portrait series).

Saturday was much better although hotter. I made good sales, met a lot of nice people, and was happy to see artists Scott Brooks and Tim Tate who stopped by to stay hello.For those interested, I do have a number of original drawings for sale. The drawings were made to flesh out my ideas for the composition and shading of my paintings and are all framed and signed. If you are interested, fell free to contact me through my website and we can schedule a time to meet.

Despite the heat, Arts on Foot was a great success! And I couldn't have done it with out the incredible patience and help of my lovely and talented wife!!!

August 27, 2008

Recently I finished an illustration that will be accompanying an editorial about a migrant worker working in a busy kitchen that will appear in the Oct/Nov issue of American Airlines' magazine Nexos. So if you're flying American Airlines this fall look in the back of the seat in front of you and check it out!

Rough Sketch -out of the 4 I sent, this was the one chosen. It was my top pick as well!

Revised sketched -then I was notified that the title had changed, and refered to the worker conducting the kitchen, so the knife became a baton and the food began flying around on a musical scale.

Final Illustration(acrylic on canvas, border done in Photoshop) - this is the first time I've produced an illustration with borders like this. Part of my directions from the beginning was to make the borders "organic." I have to say that I'm pretty happy with it.

If you haven't seen a Catalyst production, then I highly recommend you do so. The first play of their 2008-09 season is a re-staging of 1984adapted by Chris Gallu. The first staging got rave reviews and this one is sure to do receive the same.

Arts on Foot is back and after my successful day there last year, I reapplied for selection this year and got in! So, I'll have a booth there on both Friday (they've added an extra day for those interested in a preview of the Art Market) and Saturday. Come early because I will be selling never before offered drawing studies (for past paintings), new mixed media drawings, small paintings, and plenty of inexpensive prints. Please put the dates for Arts on Foot on your calendar and I look forward to seeing you there!

note: The new mixed media drawings and drawing studies of selected past paintings will be made available through my website on Sunday, September 14.

Marking its 16th anniversary, Arts on Foot is a one-day, multimedia Festival that kicks off the fall arts season in Downtown DC’s Penn Quarter. Incorporating visual art, music, theatre, dance, film, and creative cuisine, it’s an interactive celebration the whole family will enjoy. With a lively outdoor street festival as its centerpiece, Arts on Foot also invites you to explore the neighborhood’s museums, theaters, galleries, cultural organizations, and shops. From traditional classics to cutting edge, Arts on Foot offers something for the arts and food lover in everyone!

July 14, 2008

Recently I finished up 3 illustrations; to be used on playbills and other promotional material, for Catalyst Theater's 2008-09 season. The three plays are 1984 (adapted from George Orwell's novel) by Chris Gallu, Roundheads and Peakheads by Bertolt Brecht, and Bruise Easy by Dan LeFranc. The dark undertones found in all three plays made it easy to take Catalyst's palette of black, white, and red and apply it to the paintings.

rough sketch for 1984

final illustration for 1984 (acrylic on illustration board & touched up on Photoshop) text:Helen Pafumi

rough sketch for Roundheads and Peakheads

final illustration for Roundheads and Peakheads (acrylic on illustration board & touched up on Photoshop) text: Helen Pafumi

final drawing for Bruise Easy

final illustration for Bruise Easy(acrylic on illustration board & touched up on Photoshop) text: Helen Pafumi